Gearbox lock: description, device, operating principle, photo

The more expensive the vehicle, the more important and pressing the issue of its safety becomes. No matter how salespeople and marketers convince us of the effectiveness of alarms, hijackers break even the most advanced systems like nuts.

Fraudsters, and especially serious businessmen, no longer carry master keys and crowbars. Modern technologies have been adopted not only by alarm manufacturers, but also by car thieves. And you can hack a car simply by sitting on a bench with a mobile gadget. So protection against theft should be combined, especially when it comes to large cities, where cars are stolen right from under the noses of the owners.

As an additional obstacle for attackers, a good half of the experts in this field recommend special gearbox locks. The latter appeared not so long ago and are a kind of development of similar devices for the steering wheel. Many car enthusiasts believe that a gearbox lock is a guarantee of vehicle safety. Yes, it adds, and quite a bit, headaches for hijackers, but again, this is not a panacea for serious scammers. And as mentioned above, the ideal option would be only a comprehensive protection system, and not just one thing.

We will try to figure out what a gearbox lock is: how it works, what types can be found on the car market, how and where this device is installed, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.

What is a gearbox blocker?

This device blocks the free movement of the lever to change gears. The automatic transmission lock locks the lever in position P, and in manual transmissions it locks it in reverse gear. That is, in this case, you can start the engine, but you can only move the car backwards.

Installation of a gearbox lock occurs in two scenarios: either in the cabin or under the hood. The first option is more favorable for attackers, because the device can be operated from the interior without attracting unnecessary attention. But when the blocker is located under the hood, additional difficulties arise.

Kinds

However, car theft protection is not limited to pin and pinless devices and box locks. Automatic transmission blockers are divided according to purpose:

car alarms. These are sensors that constantly monitor what is happening to the car. If the owner is not nearby, and a thief has broken into it, the device sends a signal that the car has been broken into. Also, the car owner will always know where his car is if a car alarm is installed on the vehicle;
automatic transmission blockers and more. These are the devices that block the movement of the car or the penetration of a burglar to the nodes that control the car.

In turn, these blockers are divided according to their operating principle:

electronic. They are also called immobilizers. They immobilize the vehicle by blocking the signal to the electronic control brain to turn on the ignition and start driving;
mechanical. These devices, as I wrote above, block the steering wheel and automatic transmission from hacking;
electromechanical. These devices block the door lock and hood.

Read

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Now let's look at each type separately.

Gearbox lock

Gearbox locks can be:

pin;
pinless;
individual;
universal.

I have already described how pin and pinless ones work. Individual ones are made for a specific brand of automatic transmission and vehicle. Usually they are created in special workshops to order. The installation location of the blocker is immediately agreed upon with the vehicle owner.

Universal ones are also not so easy to install. To buy a suitable universal automatic transmission lock, you will need to know exactly the make and model of the vehicle, as well as the year of manufacture. Keep in mind that completely different locks are installed on a classic automatic, variator and robot, since the selectors of these boxes also have a different design.

Attention! Here's my advice. If you want to install a pinless automatic transmission lock, then place it under the console. This way you will not spoil the interior of the vehicle.

For manual transmissions, chain-type locking devices are installed that block the movement of the gearshift lever.

Hood lock

There are two types of hood lock. It is automatic and mechanical. The mechanical lock consists of a cable and a lock on the hood. The cable stretches to the driver's seat in the car. The key opens and closes the system.

Automatic is controlled by an electric drive. The lock is controlled using a key fob and the security alarm system in general. This is the most reliable option. Or use a button inside the cabin near the driver. The signal is transmitted to the hood, the electromagnet locks the hood cover with the car.

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The hood lock blocks the thief's access to the internal parts of the car, for example, the power supply, headlights.

Steering wheel lock

Previously they made a steering wheel lock. But it turned out to be ineffective against car thieves. Therefore, this lock was replaced with a steering shaft lock.

Such blockers, as on an automatic transmission, are also divided into pin and pinless. The principle of operation, closing and opening the lock is the same.

A lock on the door

A door lock is the most common passive way to protect a car. It is impossible to get into a locked car, but, having some experience, burglars still learned how to open such cars.

Manufacturers have come up with a new type of double door locking. Thanks to this blocking, a burglar will not be able to open the door, since both the external and internal drives are blocked. All doors close automatically. The driver no longer needs to go to each door and lock it individually.

But still this is not the most reliable option. There is also a lock on the pedal.

Pedal lock

Instead of blocking the automatic gearbox, the gas pedal is blocked. There are also combination locks that simultaneously lock the steering wheel and gas pedal.

Such locks work effectively even with a dead battery, as they are electromechanical. They can be used on any car, regardless of the make or model of the vehicle.

Electronic

Fully electronic devices differ from mechanical ones in that they protect against theft many times better. For example, if an electronic type of lock is installed to block the pedal or automatic transmission, then it will be possible to steal the car only if you bring a special chip to the reader. Chips cannot be made in artisanal conditions.

Read

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Electronic immobilizer locks block engine starting. Some of them are responsible for opening the electrical circuits of the car, others work via the CAN bus. However, they are not always reliable and almost all cars are equipped with them as standard.

Difficulty of choice

The reliable and most effective gearbox locks are made of durable metal, which means they cannot be cheap. All the cheap consumer goods that pour into domestic markets from the Middle Kingdom are quite easy to get around.

Judging by the numerous reviews of gearbox locks from China, they are easy to drill, saw off, and in some cases even break by hand. So it’s better not to save on such devices, and buying another “psychological protection” is more expensive for yourself.

It is also worth paying special attention to the method of installing the gearbox lock. Experts in this field believe that hidden installation is the best option. This makes it much more difficult for attackers to understand the main components of the device than if it were in plain sight.

Custom blockers?

Nowadays, a fairly common practice is to manufacture protection to individual requirements. One of the most popular types of reliable blockers are Dragon systems, manufactured in production for a special car brand. “Dragon” is a complex mechanism, encased in a closed, seamless profile made of stainless impact-resistant steel, which is mounted directly to the bracket. This difference sets the lock apart from others; for example, the “multilock” is installed on the gearbox using screw connections, the strength of which is questionable.

The steel pins used in the dragon device can be manufactured in a variety of lengths and thicknesses, and the lock cylinder is secured with a safe-like locking mechanism with a combination lock. It is almost impossible to hack such a system without the use of technological equipment, and the presence of a tool reduces the chances of a hacker, because excessive activity and noise in the car are guaranteed to attract the attention of passers-by.

To install the pinless transmission lockout, you will need to disassemble the transmission housing and part of the console. For new cars under warranty, such manipulations can only be done by an official dealer... For the appropriate money... Well, you understand...

Among the universal blockers, one can highlight the system from the Bear-Lock company. High-quality security systems began to be installed in the early 90s, and it is possible to develop an exclusive lock for any brand of car. In its structure, Bear-Lock is a coded security system that works on the “pin in pin” principle, i.e. Access to transport management cannot be obtained without knowing several passwords.

Do you want minimal intervention in the gearbox design? Then your choice may be a lock from the Garant company, which has a size of the output part of the secret mechanism of 14 mm. This value is almost 3 times less than that of other analogue security systems. The lock locks the steering wheel through the operation of the clutch and stopper. The first part is fixed to the steering shaft, and the stopper is built into the clutch structure, preventing the shaft from turning. A hardened steel bolt and Abloy key make access to the gearbox accessible only to the vehicle owner.

Do you own a Subaru, Mitsubishi or Toyota equipped with a cable and a standard accessible lock? Defen.Time locks will help you, installed on the hood and protecting your four-wheeled property from intruders entering the engine compartment. The locking will be carried out through the interaction of additional mechanisms, rather than a standard lock. After installing the system, even simple starting of the engine will be impossible without the knowledge of the vehicle owner.

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The process of installing a blocker is a long and responsible undertaking. If you have already forked out money for such a thing, then, please, finish the job to the end - contact a certified service.

It is also worth mentioning such a system as multilock, the name of which comes from an Israeli company engaged in the production of high-tech protection for cars. The lock can be mounted either on the gearbox itself or on the hood and steering shaft. The protection is controlled by a key; there is no need to manipulate the metal pins yourself. Special telescopic pins protect the control system from drilling, extrusion and various acids. The access keys themselves are produced on modern key-cutting machines, which guarantees increased protection against counterfeiting. For particularly demanding drivers, it is possible to create an entire protective system for the gearbox and hood, which will be controlled by a single key.

Are electronic locks more secure, you say? We don’t argue that in some cases a computer can act as a guaranteed anti-theft device, which is almost impossible to bypass, but who will prevent attackers from towing a vehicle to a secluded place and then carrying out the necessary hacking procedures there? A mechanical lock simply blocks the movement of traffic not only from inside the cabin, but also from the outside; no tug will help if the wheels of the car do not spin.

Types of blockers

Today's car market offers a lot of options for such devices. And while experienced car enthusiasts and experts can still figure out all this diversity, beginners most often fall into a stupor and make purchases like “something for a box, please, to prevent theft.” It’s good if the seller is smart and asks the right questions, but more often it’s the other way around.

All devices of this type can be classified according to their design and installation method. There are five main types in total:

pin;
pinless;
arc;
mechanical;
electromechanical.

Let's look at them in more detail.

What is this

Theft is an illegal act aimed at unauthorized taking of someone else's property, a car. It can be done to achieve various goals.

But, if it is proven that there was a commercial component, then the theft will be reclassified as theft. And for such a crime a more serious punishment is provided.

The commercial component means theft for the purpose of further resale of the car as a whole or for individual spare parts. That is, the purpose of taking possession of someone else’s car is to obtain a positive financial result.

Pin blocker

A gearbox pin lock is the simplest, but at the same time, the most reliable device for protecting your car from theft. The main element of this design is a pin, which is inserted into a special groove on the gearbox.

To fix, for example, on an automatic transmission, the lock, namely the pin, must be inserted into the hole when the lever is in position P. The lock will automatically jam and can only be removed using a special key. Conventional hook or horn instruments are not suitable here.

Perhaps the only critical drawback of pin locks, which at the same time is the main “trick” against theft, is a special key. If you lose it, then the problem will arise for the owner of the car.

How to install

Experts recommend installing complex locking devices in a car repair shop or at a dealer when purchasing a car. When installing it yourself, you must study the instructions and perform the work in the specified order.

For manual transmission

The procedure for installing a mechanical gearbox lock depends on the car model. The differences are in the method of dismantling the lining to access the base of the box drive. In some cars, it is enough to remove the plastic trim and unscrew the bolts securing the rocker to the body. In others, you will have to dismantle the center console.

When installing an anti-theft device on a Ford Focus, there is no need to drill additional holes. All parts of the bollard are attached to existing seats. A locking bracket is installed on the front of the slide. A part of the device with a lock is secured in the middle part. The remaining part is mounted nearby. A bracket with a hole for the bolt is attached to the gear shift handle. After installation, it is necessary to check the ease of insertion of the locking rod into the bracket.

It is necessary to allocate a place in the cladding for the hole for the lock and drill it with a core drill to the size of the cylinder. Replace the cover. The lever is fixed in the reverse position.

For automatic transmission

Pinless locks are installed on automatic transmissions to prevent theft. Their installation is a little easier than on mechanical boxes. To install an automatic transmission lock, you need to gain access to the hidden part of the gear selector. To do this, decorative overlays are dismantled. On some models, you will have to remove the front of the console.

Using the template included in the anti-theft mechanism kit, you need to drill a hole on the side of the slide. A guide tube with a power pin will be inserted into it. The blocker is installed as an assembly in place of the console mounting bracket. The structure is secured with shear bolts. A hole is drilled in the side wall of the decorative trim for the lock cylinder. Installation may vary depending on the design of the blocker and the make of the car.

Besshtyrevoy

The main difference from the previous option is the installation method, but the principle of operation remains the same. Here the device is mounted directly inside the gearbox, and the pin itself is also present, but it is not visible in the cabin. There is no need to manually insert or remove it.

But locking also requires a special tool. One of the clear advantages of this option is its hidden installation. The hijacker does not see that the checkpoint is locked and does not immediately realize this, which means he will lose precious time.

As disadvantages, we again have the occasional loss of the key and difficulties during installation. Especially if you want to install a lock on an automatic transmission. If you can still figure out the mechanics yourself, then in the case of an automatic transmission it is better to contact a car service.

Functions and principle of operation of mechanical anti-theft locks

By and large, anti-theft locks are modified mechanical locks that prevent the car from starting to move. Such “anti-theft” devices include locking and force mechanisms.

According to their functional features, blockers can be:

locking control mechanisms;
restricting the movement of a car, including its towing;
protecting against illegal entry into the interior or under the hood of a car.

Depending on the method of use of the device, there are:

adapted (suitable for specific car brands);
universal (used for different vehicles);
portable (such blockers can be removed from one car and placed on another);
stationary (installed as a standard element, removed only in specialized workshops).

Removable locks are characterized by low reliability, so it is better to give preference to built-in models.

When choosing a good mechanical lock, it is important to pay attention to the reliability and cryptographic strength of the product.

Healthy! Cryptographic strength is the level of complexity of locking the system (determined by the complex structure of the lock cylinder itself).

The locks are designed to reliably lock the main transport hubs, which we will consider in more detail.

Arc

This locking device is similar to a regular barn lock. Here we have arched brackets that surround the lever and press it against the lock, thereby preventing it from moving. The operating principle of such devices is extremely simple, but the visual component is not the most attractive.

In addition, arc blockers are immediately noticeable, and a car thief will see them through the window without entering the cabin. In addition, such a structure is easier to saw, and if the metal is thin, it can also be bitten off with industrial cutters.

After the appearance of the two previous types on the market, arc blockers are losing their popularity; even their low cost cannot save them.

Gearbox lock

Gearbox blockers can be either built-in or removable. Security mechanisms are also divided into the following categories:

Pin. The principle of operation is that a special pin rests against the lever, as a result of which it becomes impossible to move it from one position to another.
Arc. The blockers are removable and are placed directly on the lever itself from the outside.
Pinless. A built-in element, which is an internal locking mechanism that reliably locks the gear forks.

Pin models require the use of a key, but in order for the lever to work, the key must not only be removed, but inserted into a “secret” place known only to the car owner. Automatic transmission locking is most often carried out using just such a system.

Among the disadvantages of such devices, it is worth noting their low reliability, since, having gained access to the engine compartment, the thief can easily connect the second gear. This is enough to leave. Therefore, it is recommended to combine gearbox locks with engine compartment protection.

Mechanical

Mechanical gearbox locks are universal and proprietary. The former include devices that are suitable for all brands of cars, while the latter can only be mounted on specific series and models of cars.

The principle of operation of a mechanical lock is similar in functionality to the first three types of locks. It can be called combined. That is, a special pin and a lock on the gear shift knob with an original key are most often involved here.

A big role, as in previous cases, is played by the quality of the metal and its thickness. Cheap thin products can not only be sawed, but also simply torn off using brute force.

Varieties and types

Today, finding a gearbox lock is not a problem. The main problem is which type (variety) to choose. All gearbox blockers can be divided by design, installation method, manufacturer, and so on. They are mainly pinned, pinless, arc, mechanical and electromechanical.

Shtyrevoy

It is a fairly simple device that is reliable to use. The lock looks like a pin; it is inserted into a special hidden hole in the gearbox. It is necessary to engage a certain gear on the transmission, for example, reverse on a manual transmission or the “P” position on the transmission - automatic. Next, the pin is inserted into the hole so that it sticks out slightly. Now, in order to engage the gear and unlock it, you need a separate key inserted into the lock of the lock. This is where the disadvantage of this type of gearbox lock appears - there is a risk of losing the key, and then the owner himself will not be able to drive away in a stolen car. But for a car thief, this option creates considerable problems.

Besshtyrevoy

It differs from the option above only in the installation method. The principle of operation remains the same. The pinless lock is installed inside the gearbox. The pin itself is present, but it is not visible in the interior; there is no longer any need to remove the pin from the box yourself. Also, a specific, special key is required to unlock. This option is good because the car thief does not see whether there is a lock and will not immediately understand why the transmission does not engage. And for the car owner it is easier to use the lock - just turn the key and the box is unlocked or locked. But a pinless lock is difficult to install on the gearbox yourself; it is better to contact a car service, which leads to additional costs.

Arc

This device looks like an arc-shaped bracket; it covers the gear lever. The lever is pressed against the lock and locked; it cannot be moved. The operating principle is simple, but outwardly it looks rather unattractive due to its specific design. There is less reliability, and at the same time the thief sees that there is a blockage at the checkpoint. But if it is made of low-quality steel, then you can safely saw it. The arc gearbox lock is not particularly popular among the population; it is gradually being replaced by pin and pinless versions.

Mechanical

Mechanical gearbox locking means that additional devices must be installed to prevent the moving parts of the gearbox from operating. Mechanical ones include the previously described options: pin, pinless and arc. Mechanical blockers can also be divided into universal and model versions. Universal devices include devices that fit any car. And model ones are intended for installation only on a specific gearbox model. They take into account all the nuances and features of the gearbox. When choosing any mechanical gearbox lock, it is especially necessary to pay attention to the durability and strength of the metal, whether it can withstand sawing attempts, and what is the reliability of the device. You should also make sure that the selected model is suitable for the vehicle and gearbox.

Electromechanical

For lovers of modern devices, there is an alternative option - an electromechanical lock. Outwardly, it is not noticeable and does not take up space in the cabin. The operation of this lock depends on a special electronic tag. It is enough to apply it to the protection, and you can change gears again. At first glance, it is not noticeable where the small point of contact with the key fob is located. But it is quite difficult to hack the device mechanically. The system is securely fixed using shear bolts.

Electromechanical

This is the most advanced option for protecting your car from theft. The electromechanical lock does not take up space in the cabin and is not visually noticeable. So the thief will understand what he is dealing with only when he gets inside and tries to move the car.

The operation of the device is based on electronic tags, such as are found in immobilizers. That is, the user just needs to place it in a certain part of the case, and the lock will be activated and open in the same way.

It is quite difficult to break into an electromechanical lock using the usual force method, because the entire system is fixed with special break-out bolts. The latter are usually made of high-quality metal and are distinguished by hidden installation. So electromechanical gearbox protection is the most effective today.

Criterias of choice

When purchasing a particular blocker model, you must proceed from the following criteria:

Possibility of installation on an existing vehicle;
compatibility with the installed alarm system (when choosing an electromechanical anti-theft design);
quality of materials used for the power section;
cryptographic resistance of the lock cylinder.

Experts believe that none of the types of locks used separately provides a complete guarantee against theft. A high level of protection can be achieved by combining several protection systems.

Advantages and disadvantages

Installing blockers provides the following benefits:

the difficulty of opening the interior or hood when using appropriate devices;
increasing the total time to prepare a car for theft.

Design disadvantages include:

low security of a car with a manual transmission (can be towed or driven in reverse);
weak cryptographic strength of the lock's visors;
difficulty of installation.

When installing the lock in a workshop, unauthorized duplication of keys is possible.

Advantages of checkpoint blockers

As with any other anti-theft systems, blockers also have their own clear advantages and disadvantages. There are slightly more of the latter, but this is only a quantitative, not a qualitative indicator of the effectiveness of devices. The main thing is that the blocker copes with the task.

Installing such devices significantly increases the time required to steal a car. The longer the attacker takes to unlock the gearshift lever, the higher the chances of his detection. Statistics show that scammers do not spend more than 3 minutes on a theft, and if such delays arise, they simply abandon it.

But this is only if the car was not “ordered”. Then the attacker will stop at nothing and will go to the last.

It is also worth noting that gearbox locks are sometimes more reliable and convenient than car alarms. They are not triggered by the touch of random passers-by or by strong winds and firmly fix the gear shift lever. While alarms sound a siren for every reason and are hacked from a distance by professional car thieves in a matter of seconds.

Where and how to install

As mentioned above, the gearbox lock must be installed directly near the gearshift lever. But it can also be placed on the gearbox in the hood of the car.

Features of the gearbox lock installed in the car interior

The blocker located inside the car is easy for a car thief to get to. For this reason, the design of the system must be as durable as possible. Otherwise, an attacker can easily dismantle the brackets and fastenings.

Features of a gearbox lock installed in the engine compartment

The principle of operation of the system does not differ from the option above. It's all about the installation location. It is necessary to install protection directly in the gearbox. It will take extra time for the car thief to get there. And if you additionally install it on the hood lock, then the effectiveness of protection will be greater.

Flaws

To bypass the locking of such locks, simply release the clutch and tow the car to a secluded place where you can safely get rid of the device that closes the gearbox. Yes, carrying out such an operation in the daytime is a big risk of being caught, but the arrogance and unscrupulousness of scammers knows no bounds.

Professional hijackers, working in pairs, have well-developed scripts and tools to bypass such blocking. When one deals with the lock in the cabin, the other helps him under the hood. Here, again, in the daytime, two people scurrying around near a car can arouse strong suspicions, but this does not interfere with inveterate car thieves.

It is also worth noting that independent installation of locking devices is quite complicated, especially when it comes to pinless and electromechanical locks. With an automatic transmission the task becomes even more difficult. So, for competent installation you will have to pay money, sometimes quite substantial ones (BMW, Mercedes, Audi and other premium segment).

In addition, a high-quality blocker made from a good alloy will cost a tidy sum. Yes, you can find a device made of more or less thick metal and at an attractive price, but such locks, although not quickly, can still be sawed with a special locksmith tool. Therefore, saving is not entirely appropriate here.

How to choose a mechanical lock?

To pre-select a blocker, the owner needs to decide on the type of device, as well as the amount of money he is willing to spend on purchase and installation. If you want to install a blocker, you should remember that it does not protect cars with a manual transmission well. When installing the product on a car with an automatic transmission, it is recommended to install an additional hood lock, which will complicate access to the shift rockers located on the gearbox housing.

Criterias of choice

Before purchasing, the car owner should evaluate the following features of the product:

Possibility of installation on a specific vehicle;
ability to work in conjunction with electronic security systems (when installing electromechanical interlocks);
The lock and locking mechanism must be made of durable materials and have a burglary-resistant design.

Popular models and manufacturers

On the Russian market, the most common types of bollards are mechanical and electromechanical, produced by the following companies:

“Flim” (products under the Garant brand);
“Fortus”;
Cerberus-M (products under the Dragon brand);
Construct.

In some regions, there may be gearbox lockers produced by small Chinese companies. The quality of the materials is low and we cannot recommend them for purchase and installation.

Flim company

The Garant Consul device, which is a pinless blocker. The product is a model; the Flim company produces about 200 versions of the lock.

One of the blocker options Garant Consul

The blocker is characterized by:

The design of the device uses a locking part manufactured by Abloy Protec, which has almost 2 billion key combinations.
The larva is installed in a cylindrical thick-walled housing made of steel. The thickness of the case walls is 4 mm.
To block the gear shift drive, a retractable bolt made of high-strength steel is installed.
The lock cylinder is located closer to the top of the console, which makes working with the lock easier. To turn the mechanism on and off, just turn the key 180°. Locking is only possible at a certain position of the shift lever.
The lock mounting brackets are made of 5 mm steel sheet. The elements are connected to each other by welding and powder coated to provide protection against corrosion.
The bollard is fastened using bolts with breakaway heads to the standard fastening points available on the car body. The blocker can only be removed by drilling out the fixing bolts.

The electromechanical lock Garant iP-GR belongs to a new generation of devices. To control the blocking, an additional channel of the security complex or a special key fob is used, which must be brought to the reader.

Delivery set of blocker Garant iP-GR

Characteristic features of the blocker:

Welded steel structure, installed on standard mounting points using shear bolts.
The lock is a model design; a separate modification is available for each car.
The delivery set includes additional protective brackets that limit access to the gearshift cables. The brackets do not allow you to control the gearbox by removing the console and moving the shift cables with various tools.
The lock has a built-in safety element that prevents the box from locking while moving or stopping. The fuse reacts to the state of the ignition system by blocking the device's bolt when the engine is running.
Disconnecting the standard battery does not deactivate the protective device.
The compact dimensions of the blocker allow it to be completely hidden under the trim of the center console. Only the combination pushbutton switch with a ring antenna mounted around the button remains visible.
The device uses a hack-resistant crypto code to operate the device. The signal is read when the tag approaches a distance of 50 mm from the antenna. This algorithm prevents an attacker from intercepting the control code.

Company “Fortus”

A common type of pinless lock is produced by Fortus. The shift is blocked by fixing the rocker in the reverse gear position (for manual transmission) or in the parking position (for automatic transmission).

The features of the locks include:

Use of Mul-T-Lock lock cylinders equipped with high-alloy steel pins.
Installation of additional carbide inserts into the cylinder body, which make drilling difficult.
The pin springs are made of acid-resistant beryllium bronze. The lock cannot be opened by etching the larva with acids.
The key design has a floating pin. By removing the key from the lock, the owner takes away part of the secret combination. A similar design was developed by Mul T-Lock Interactive.
The key and pins have a special nickel-silver alloy coating, which ensures ease of operation of the mechanism.
The lock has a bar that prevents dirt from getting inside. The cylinder mechanism does not require lubrication and remains operational over a wide temperature range.
The lock comes with three keys. For making duplicates, a card with a code is included in the package. Using this code, specialized workshops can produce an additional key.
It is possible to use the lock in combination with other security devices.

Mechanical box lock Fortus
On the basis of a mechanical lock, the Fortus company has developed an electromechanical device. The blocker can be turned off together with the security alarm or by presenting the tag to the reading device. The characteristics of the blocker are similar to those of the Garant iP-GR device.

Company “Cerberus-M”

The third common type of blockers are pinless and pin products from Cerberus-M, known under the “Dragon” brand. Blockers can be installed not only on the main gearbox, but also on the transfer gearbox.

Features of pin and pinless products “Dragon”:

Application of high-strength steels for the body with subsequent heat treatment. The geometric design complicates the force breaking procedure.
The locking bolt is made of several elements. The crossbar drive resists force influences. The drive design is patented.
The blocker design contains additional protective elements that prevent access to vulnerable components.
The lock cylinder has more than 3.5 million combinations. The cylinder uses additional protective inserts that increase the resistance of the assembly to rotation or drilling. The small dimensions of the cylinder do not spoil the appearance of the car interior.

Company “Construct”

On the anti-theft device market there are lockers under the Construct brand, which are produced in the Czech Republic:

Pinless circuit.
The lock has increased resistance to mechanical, chemical and thermal methods of breaking.
Built-in protection against rotation of the cylinder.

Appearance of the Construct blocker

Summarizing

As mentioned above, a gearbox lock alone is not a panacea. Even an electromechanical device does not guarantee protection of your car from theft. Such guarantees require only comprehensive measures.

These include locks on the gearbox, steering wheel, pedals, and that all this is protected by a technically advanced car alarm. Of course, such a “bouquet” will cost a pretty penny, and it will take the owner a lot of time to unlock it, but this will save not only the car, but also your nerves. And the latter cannot be bought for any money.

Advantages and disadvantages

Nowadays there are a lot of different anti-theft protection products sold on the markets. But, using them one at a time, you will not be able to achieve exceptional protection for your car against theft.

For example, if you only use electronic security devices, then a thief who knows where they are located can easily disarm them and steal the car. Without a car alarm, an attacker can easily get under the hood, disconnect the battery, and disable the steering wheel or pedal locks.

Attention! Use comprehensive measures to prevent vehicle theft. For example, a car alarm together with a hood lock and an automatic transmission lock.

Although the gearbox lock is effective today. However, if the car is parked in a yard or a poorly guarded parking lot, then it costs nothing for a thief to get close to the car at night, climb into it, disassemble the automatic transmission selector, and remove the lock. This is usually done by experienced mechanics who have taken a “bad road” or become involved with some gangs.

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How to drift automatically

Of course, no one will bother so much about a budget and cheap car. Therefore, for such vehicles, a machine blocker is quite sufficient. But owners of expensive cars should think about protecting their vehicle.

Provide expensive car brands with comprehensive protection, which includes not only car alarms, but also mechanical gas pedal locks, automatic transmissions, and locking devices. Use conversational signaling coding. This method has not yet been studied enough by attackers. Therefore, the car will be protected.

Write in the comments what methods of protecting the automatic transmission and car hood do you use? Has your car been stolen?

Automatic transmission lock: features and principle of operation

Every responsible car owner tries to take care not only of his own safety by maintaining the car in good condition, but also of the safety of the vehicle itself. We are talking about protection from unlawful attacks by third parties.

One of the effective ways to protect your car from theft is to mechanically lock the steering wheel, pedal assembly and gearbox. At the same time, in the case of mechanics, there are many solutions, but difficulties may arise on models with automatic transmission. Next we will talk about what an automatic transmission lock is, how the locking mechanism works and how it works.

Automatic transmission lock

Measures to protect a car from burglary or theft can be different, but they are all divided into separate groups, regardless of what transmission the car is equipped with:

Alarm/immobilizer (an electronic device that protects a car from theft or theft);
Hood lock (additional protection of the car from theft or burglary: protection of access to alarm modules, protection against removal of headlights, battery, etc.);
Steering column lock (if there is no key in the ignition switch or when you try to start the car with a third-party key, the locking device blocks the rotation of the steering wheel);
Lockers for gear shift lever, pedals, etc. (mechanical devices that protect the car from theft).

Now let's talk in more detail about automatic transmission blockers, why they are needed and how they work. So, an automatic transmission lock is a device whose purpose is to prevent car theft by blocking the gearbox. The first blockers of this type were produced.

They were reliable and durable, it was almost impossible to hack them. Now the term “Mul-T-Lock” combines anti-theft devices from different manufacturers with the same operating principle.

Today, bollards custom-designed for a specific car model are becoming increasingly popular. When manufacturing such a mechanism, the manufacturer takes into account, first of all, the design features of a particular vehicle. The device is locked using a key.

It is very difficult to crack the lock, since the security pin located inside the system encodes the lock of the security mechanism. High-alloy steels used in the production of bollards are resistant to drilling and acids.

How an automatic transmission lock works: types and types of locks

Blockers are mounted on an automatic transmission (similar to a manual transmission). The only function of the Mul-T-Lock, regardless of its design, is to block the movement of the automatic transmission selector lever when the device is locked.

The location of the locking keyhole on the car console can be on the left, right or front. In some cases, the Mul-T-Lock may be located between the vehicle's front seats or on the instrument panel (near the steering column).

The locking mechanism is controlled using a key. The anti-theft device on the automatic transmission transfers forces between the cylinder and the locking mechanism located on a special bracket, changing direction.

There are four types of Mul-T-Lock:

automatic transmission lock pin;
automatic transmission lock, pinless;
universal automatic transmission lock;
Individual automatic transmission lock.

The design of the pin lock is very reliable and quite simple. The locking device is a pin made of durable steel, through which the automatic transmission lever is locked. The locking pin is fixed with a key. To unlock the mechanism, you need to remove the locking pin.

A pinless automatic transmission lock, in contrast to a pin lock, has a pinless type locking mechanism, which is built into the lock itself (installed in the automatic transmission design). The lock pin is never removed and is moved using a key. The main functions are the same as those of a pin lock - to ensure blocking of the automatic transmission lever.

A universal automatic transmission lock can be installed on any car model. The only exceptions may be those cars on which Mul-T-Lock cannot be installed due to their design features.

We also recommend reading the article about what to do if the alarm blocks the engine from starting. From this article you will learn about several methods that allow you to start an internal combustion engine if the alarm has blocked the engine from starting and the vehicle owner is unable to start the power unit.